FAQs about Electricity in General
When should I have an Electrical Inspection?
Electrical inspections should be done anytime any changes are made to the electrical wiring of your home or business.
Who inspects the electrical work completed in my home?
The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) is responsible for inspecting the electrical wiring installed in all homes in Ontario. They can be contacted by phone at 1-877-372-7233. Their web page is www.esainspection.net
Where can I find a qualified electrical contractor?
As of January 1, 2007, all electrical contractors must now have a provincial electrical contractor license to perform electrical work for clients, according to a new law passed by the Ontario government and being enforced by Ontario's Electrical Safety Authority. The goal of the new law is to prevent Ontarians from suffering injuries and property damage due to unprofessional and unsafe electrical work. All licensed electrical contractors should be able to reference their license number, and it's your right to ask for it. The new legislation is intended to make life easier for consumers and give them the peace of mind in knowing the contractor they've hired is qualified, competent and insured. If you're looking to hire a licensed electrical contractor to do electrical work on your property, a listing is available at www.pluginsafely.ca or by calling 1-877-372-7233.
What is a kilowatt-hour?
A kilowatt-hour [kWh] is 1,000 watts of electricity used for one hour of time. A kilowatt-hour is the unit of electricity that your meter measures and for which we bill you each month/bimonthly period.
If a 100 watt light bulb is on for 4 hours per day for 30 days, that's - 100/1000 x 4 x 30 = 12 Kwh.
What is KW Demand?
This is the instantaneous use of electricity, measured in KiloWatts (1 KW = 1,000 watts).
What are power surges and how can I protect my electronic equipment?
A power surge is an increase in voltage. It can damage sensitive electronic equipment like computers. Some electronic home entertainment equipment may also be vulnerable. Protecting your valuable electronic equipment and data from surges or other changes in the power supply is usually simple and low cost. Your equipment dealer can advise on the device(s) and procedures that can protect your equipment from power surges.
Are there any benefits to using circuit breakers instead of fuses?
The main difference between circuit breakers and fuses is that circuit breakers can be reset while fuses operate only once and then must be replaced. If your breakers or fuses trip repeatedly, call an electrician because you may have a problem with your electrical system.
How many volts of electricity does a Power Line carry?
A power line can carry 4,000 to 500,000 volts of electricity.
All it takes is 1/10th of an amp of current to be fatal. (Current is measured by the Voltage divided by Resistance)
NEVER touch, or go near power lines that are down. Phone Thunder Bay Hydro at (807) 343-1111 or after office hours at (807) 343-1002 to notify them.
This page last updated 2009-09-30.
